Thursday, March 27, 2014

Unfortunately being a mother comes with very tough situations, one I had to face this morning. While the kids were getting ready for school one asked "Why are people gay ?" and another asked "Isn't being gay a sin in the bible." One last question to drive the dagger in a little deeper. "Why do we have so many gay family member's?"

My brain is spinning thinking what on earth unleashed this onslaught of questioning. But inside I'm happy they came to me instead of a friend or someone that may not know what I know or believe. As a mother I'm grateful my kids ask such hard questions, no matter how hard they are. I am grateful I get to research, answer and suggest my beliefs to them. I also hope I can guide them to believe as the feel they need as they grow older.

Let the answers begin.

In my heart and soul, I believe being gay is not a choice. I believe those that identify with it are born with it. I believe it should be characterized as a genetic disorder, birth defect or syndrome. I don't mean this in a negative way. Because lets face it, we love people with cleft lips, down syndrome, Huntington's, Parkinson's, Crohns and Cystic Fibrosis. Those people can not change these parts of themselves. Its the cards they were dealt. Its unfortunate. But they learn to accept themselves, their disease/disorder and continue on with life. I do think that research in the next 20 years will show my belief or hypothesis, whichever you want to call it.

I know this disorder well. I have 4 immediate family members that suffer from it daily. My newest family member just came out of the closet. Unfortunately he is young and impressionable and the negative views thrown at him are eating him up. Someone close to him keeps throwing Bible beliefs at him. I must imagine being a Christian with this disorder or syndrome has got to be heart breaking, mind boggling and quite confusing.

I did some searching and these verses all speak of homosexuality. Bible verses like Genesis 19: 1-11, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Judges 19:16-24, Romans 1:18-32, and many more speak Christian views. I associate myself as a Christian, a Baptist to be specific. But this association does not mean I chastise, demonize or judge those living a gay life. My job is to love them but also its to understand the bible., James 4:12 tells me this.

Now this is just my view, don't be negative please, just listen. I believe God is our Father and we are to ask for forgiveness of our sins and try to do better. I believe in baptism, the holy ghost, and Gods purest love for each one of us. However, I believe the verses in the bible are not speaking of the disorder of homosexuality. It speaks about the rape of men on men, the convenience of sex with someone of the same sex like prostitution. I believe those are all different from a person living with a disorder that loves someone of the same sex as them and there is nothing they can change about it. This I believe is not the meaning of what God speaks of in the bible. At least that's what I am going with. You may not believe that way but I must. My family is my heart, plain and simple. I am proud of them. Honestly, with the large amount of homosexuals in our family I believe research will prove a genetic link, passed down a family tree much like other diseases/disorders/syndromes out there where some are the unlucky ones to get it and others don't. It's OK to disagree with me. But this is a conversation that needs to be addressed and needs careful thought and needs control of emotions. I'm throwing my hat in the ring for the support of my family. 1 Timothy 5:8 shares the need for family support. I encourage you to discuss it and learn other peoples view, opinions and thoughts on the subject.

I explain this view to my children and they all agreed to accept it and move on. That was the end of their questions. I hope that one of them or all of them get to see the research come to fruition and a real cause/Chromosome/gene is located and the world can move on in peace. We love and accept all those with Parkinson's, Cystic fibrosis, Huntington's and so on. We support them, accept them and help through their battles and struggles. I look forward to the day homosexuality is treated the same.